Equality of Outcome vs. Equality of Opportunity | Purdue University
Four students at Purdue University examined this claim: “Equality of outcome is more important than equality of opportunity.”
The participants quickly land on two lines: Disagree and Strongly Disagree. They tease out various ideas embedded in the claim, including social vestiges of oppression, creating a level playing field, merit, insincere outcomes, and opportunity creation. While these students are in general agreement regarding the importance of opportunity, their points of divergence reveal the complex relationship between opportunity and outcome.
This conversation was filmed at Purdue University on April 16, 2022.
This was a great conversation. I'm beginning to think that there are so many things we need to talk about to understand the broad range of opinions in order to come up with nuanced and thoughtful solutions. And I find it is challenging to get people to willingly do this. So far one on one has worked for me.
Peter, can you help me address an idea I've had around 'Equal Opportunity' and the common presentation of 'Equal Opportunity vs Equal Outcome' as a useful and coherent point of debate. I've been pointing it out to various people like yourself for years, with no response.
My argument is this:
1) Equality of outcome ventures quickly and necessarily tend towards increasing levels of totalitarianism, Cutting Down The Tall Poppies, Harrison Bergenon-ing, etc.
"Utopia can only approached across a sea of blood, and you never arrive."
2) Equal opportunity ventures *are themselves a type* of equal outcome ventures.
The type of desired equal outcome being that of 'opportunity'.
3) Therefore, Equality of opportunity ventures do also necessarily tend towards increasingly levels of totalitarianism, Cutting Down The Tall Poppies, Harrison Bergenon-ing, etc.
4) Therefore, equality of opportunity ventures as as foolish and destructive a venture as any other equality of outcome venture, and should not be pursued.
Those offering Equality of Opportunity as a suitable substitute, alternative for the modern ubiquitous Equality of Outcome doctrine are offering the same gruel in a different bowl.
Thank you.